Cup dispensing machine



Feb. 20, 1951 c. c. WAITE ETAL 2,542,067

CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Charles11mm? l Phil? 1? .Bendsr IN VEN TOR.

' A TDRNE Y5 Feb. 20, 1951 c. c. WAITE ETAL CUP DISPENSING IIACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1946 Charles C. Waite P11171 1 F .BandarINVENTORS Feb. 20, 1951 c, c, w n' r I 2,542,067

CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 15 .Fig 4- i54 iii/T. 511131185 5. Waite P27111217 F Bender I N V EN TOR.

ATTDANE Y5 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Charles C.Waite and Philip F. Bender, Jersey City, N. J assignors, by mesneassignments, to Cleveland-Detroit Corporation, a corporation of DelawareApplication September 10, 1946, Serial No. 695,836

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to cup dispensing machines and moreparticularly to dispensing machines for use with automatic vendingmachines wherein a large supply of cups may be stored and dispensedwithout frequent servicing.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing machine of thetype wherein a number of stacks of nested cups are stored in a rotatableturret, one of said stacks being in alignment with a dispensingmechanism of the usual type for dispensing the cups individually,rotation of the turret being controlled to insure that one of thereserve stacks will be brought into alignment with the dispensingmechanism as soon as the previous stack has been depleted.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine having aSingle operating motor for both the dispensing mechanism and therotating means, and which will positively rotate and position the stackswith relation to the dispensing mechanism. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a positivelyindexed rotatable turret device which will be rendered entirelyinoperative upon exhaustion of the entire supply of cups and which maybe associated with a drink dispensing machine or similar device in suchmanner as to assure that a cup will be provided upon each operation ofthe drink dispenser.

With these and still other objects which will appear in the foregoingfull description in mind, the invention consists in the combinations andarrangements of parts and details of construction which will now firstbe fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and willthen be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a dispensing mechanism according tothe present invention, showing the mechanical parts thereof inelevation;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the mainoperating elements of the device;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the three operative positionsof the elements of the device;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cutout and signal mechanism incorporated inthe device in operativeposition;

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4 showing the cutout and signalmechanism in inoperative position and having the circuit diagram tor thedevice annexed thereto; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the column supply detectingmechanism.

The circular turret structure A has incorporated therein a number ofvertical compartments B each of which is adapted to receive and supporta stack of nested drinking cups C. The compartments B are locatedconcentrically about the axis of the turret A. The stacks oi. cups Crest, within the confines of the compartments 3. upon a plate D, whichalso forms a cover for the operating mechanism. An opening in the plateD, having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cups,receives a stack of cups C, feeding them to a dispensing mechanism Fthrough a tube E, aligned therewith.

The dispensing mechanism F may be of any suitable type adapted toseparate the bottom cup of a stack from the remainder of the cups anddrop it through a conveying tube G for delivery to the user or to thefilling device, when the dispenser is associated with an automatic drinkvending machine. This dispensing device F forms no part of the presentinvention and is therefore not shown in detail.

The dispensing mechanism F is operated by a shaft H connected to anoperating motor I. Upon each single complete rotation of the shaft H,the mechanism F delivers a single cup to the delivery tube G from thesuperimposed stack 0. As one stack nears exhaustion the mechanismembodied in the present invention, described hereinafter, causes theturret to be rotated sufiiciently to bring another stack into alignmentwith the opening in the plate D, through which the cups fall to thedispensing mechanism F. At such time as the stacks of cups in all thecompartments B have been exhausted, the device is rendered entirelyinoperative and a signal device energized to inform the user of thatfact.

The turret A comprises two sections, I and 2, the lower section Iforming a plurality of supporting and guiding compartments B, thedivisions between the compartments being formed by curved sheet metalplates or other suitable means. The upper section 2 fits securely overthe lower section I to protect and support the upper ends of the cupstack C, being easily removable for replenishing the supply of cups.

A post 3 centers the turret structure A, being inserted through axialbearings 4 in the lower section I thereof in such manner as to permitthe turret to rotate thereon. The post 3 extends downwardly through acentral opening 5 in the plate D and is secured to the bottom plate 6 of'the entire structure. A collar 1 is attached to 3 the post 8, withinthe opening I, its upper end supporting the lower section i of theturret to maintain the same a short distance above the surface of plateD upon which the stacks of cups rest.

A ratchet member having spaced teeth or notches is carried rotatably ina groove formed in the sleeve I and carries a pin 9 which extendsupwardly therefrom, through the opening and enters an opening Iii formedin the lower turret section I; Thus, when the ratchet I is rotated, theturret likewise rotates to move the stacks of cups concentrically aboutthe axial post I.

The electric motor I is secured to the lower plate 6 for rotating theshaft H, either directly or through suitable gear members 20, uponenergization. The shaft Hcarries a suitably shaped cam member 2| forrotation therewith. 1

The cam 2| acts upon a cam follower surface 3| carried by arms 32,journaled by a pivot pin 33 in brackets 34 mounted upon the base plate6. A sprin 35, coiled about the pivot pin 33 and having one end attachedto the support 34 and its opposing end bearing against the lower surfaceof the cam follower surface 3|, urges the latter constantly upward andagainst the periphery of cam 2|. A control plate 31 is attached to aportion of, and extends upwardly at right angles to, the cam followersurface 8|, being rocked therewith by the action of the cam It on thecam surface 3|, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The pivotalmovement of the control plate 3'! is thus regulated and interrelatedwith the operation of the other elements of the mechanism by cam 2|.

Cam 2| also coacts with the surface of an operating plate II, the latterbeing pivotally attached for rocking movement upon the base plate 6 bymeans of the pivot pin 42. This plate It is also urged into constantcontact with the cam 2| by a spring 43 mounted on the pivot pin 4!,bearing against the surface of the plate II and the base plate 8.Pivotally mounted on the plate II is a pawl 50, spring biased andconstantly urged toward the ratchet I. The surface ll of a the pawl 50is engaged by an extension 38 formed on the control plate 31, and thepivotal movement of pawl 50 is limited thereby.

A feeler arm 60, pivotally mounted upon pivot pin 8| at the rearwardedge of the rocking control plate 31, moves within an opening or slot 62formed in the tube E and associated structure of the dispensingmechanism F. The spring 35, acting upon the follower surface 3| and itsattached plate 31 causes the feeler arm 60 attached to plate 31 to beurged toward the stack of cups being fed to the dispensing mechanism F.Contact of the feeler arm 60 with the cup stack will arrest its movementin the full line position of Fig. 3, consequently limiting the rockingmovement of the control plate I1. Upon reduction of the number of cupsin the feeding stack to three or four, or to a point below the feelerarm slot 62, the arm 80 is allowed to move farther toward the axis ofthe dispensing mechanism F (into the right hand broken line position ofFig. 3), so that the control plate 81 may rock to the full limit of itsarc of rotation as determined by the cam II and cooperating cam surfacell. As a consequence, the pawl member til, which previously had beenheld from engagement with the ratchet O by the extension I! on the plate81, engages the ratchet 8. The plate ll, on which the pawl 50 ismounted, being simultaneously rocked by the cam 2|. moves the ratchetone step, thus rotating the turret A. Upon the next operation of thedevice the same result is efl'ectcd, moving the ratchet one more step,suiilciently to revolve the turret to a point where another compartmentB is located over the dispensing mechanism F and its feeding tube E, sothat the stack of cups contained therein will fall through the openingin plate D to the dispensing mechanism 1''. Upon subsequent operation ofthe device, the new supply of cups, extending upwardly into the turret,will engage the feeler arm 00, preventing its full movement andsubsequently limiting the movement of the pawl 50, so that the pawl 50and ratchet I will not again engage until the new stack of cups has beendepleted to a point below the slot 62, at which time the feeler arm 8|will make a full movement, allowing engagement of pawl 50 with ratchet 8and subsequent rotation of the turret A, in two steps, to bring anotherstack of cups into feeding position.

As described above, upon each single rotation of shaft H and cam 2|, allthe component parts of the mechanism are set in motion, the limitationupon their full movement being determined by the number of cups in thefeeding stack. Operation of'the turret rotating means is effected beforethe feeding stack is fully exhausted, thus guaranteeing that the stackwill be replenished before the last cup in the feeding stack isdelivered.

A spring-biased indexing arrangement, coupled with a cut-out and signalmeans, is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The indexing lever II ispivotally mounted at ll upon a supporting plate J, and carries a rollerI2 thereon for engagement in the notches or teeth of the ratchet wheelI. A spring H connected to the end of the lever II and to a projectionon the plate J urges the roller 12 against the ratchet wheel 8. When thepawl 50 engages a tooth of the ratchet wheel I to rotate the same, theroller If is tripped out of a notch thereof. As below described, theresulting movement of the indexing lever 10 is utilized for controllingthe mechanism. The pawl member 50 having rotated the ratchet wheel I apredetermined distance, approximately equal to the arcuate distancebetween the teeth or notches on the wheel 8. releases the ratchet wheelI and roller 12 is forced into a notch of the wheel 8. In this way theratchet wheel and the turret A to which it is connected are positivelypositioned, so that at the end of each two such step movements, one ofthe cup stacks will be in exact alignment with the opening in the plateD and the dispensing mechanism 1''.

A feeler arm 80, pivotally mounted at II on plate J, is aligned with aslot 82 in the plate D. The feeler arm 8. is positioned to engage astack of cups in the reserve position immediately preceding the feedingposition. A spring ll urges the free end of the arm upwardly against thebottom of the stack in this reserve position. The length of the arm OIis such that upon the first step of movement of the stack toward thefeeding mechanism, the arm is still depressed, and upon the second step,the next succeeding stack will move over the slot to keep the arm 60depressed. However, when the last stack within the turret A moves fromthis reserve position to feeding position, the remaining compartments Bbeing empty, the arm 80 will move upwardly as shown in dotted lines inFig. 6.'

Attached to the feeler arm II is a flexible arm 84, extending parallelthereto, but vertically spaced therefrom as shown mm. 0. Arm.

is formed with a right angle projection for engaging and operating aswitch operating member 9|. When the arm 80 is in depressed position(solid lines Fig. 6) the extension I3 of the index lever ID will, uponmovement of the ratchet wheel 8 pass idly between the arms 80 and 84without affecting either of them. When the last cup stack has been movedto the feeding position, so that arm 80 has moved upwardly, theextension 13 of indexer will engage the flexible arm 84, upon the nextrotation of the ratchet. Flexible arm 84 will then engage switch arm 9|and operate the switch 90 to render the entire dispensing mechanisminoperative and at the same time energize a signal device, if desired,to inform the user of the exhaustion of the cup supply. In this waypossibility of operation of the device without delivery of cups isprevented. When the device is employed in combination with an automaticdrink dispensing machine, the entire machine may be at the same timerendered inoperative.

Fig. 5 shows schematically suitable circuit elements for correlating themechanism above described. When the switch S, which may be coinoperated, is energized, a circuit is closed to the relay R causing therelay contacts S2 and S3 to close. Contacts S2 establish a maintainingcircuit. the operation of switch S being ordinarily momentary. Closingcontacts S3 energizes the motor I to rotate the shaft H and initiate acycle of operation of the dispensing mechanism. 'The switch S4, operatedby a projection on the control plate 31, is included in the relaymaintaining circuit and held open in the neutral, non-operative positionof the device, when the cam 2! has its high portion turned downward todepress the follower surface 3|. Upon operation of the device, as thecam 2| rotates, the follower surface 3| is urged upwardly and the switchS4 closed until the end of the movement, when the cam 2| again depressesthe surface 3|. Thus the switch S4 acts as a limit switch to open thecircuit for the motor I when one complete rotation of the shaft H (andone complete cycle of operation of the entire dispensing mechanism) hasbeen accomplished.

Upon exhaustion of the entire supply of cups, i. e. when the feeler arm60 has detected the depletion of the feeding stack and the detector arm80 has moved upwardly, the switch mechanism 90 is operated, to break thecircuit to the mechanism and render it inoperative.

A second cam-controlled switch S5 is provided,

which has no function with regard to the opera- 3 tion above described,but may be actuated upon each cup dispensing operation in desiredrelation to the cup dispensing cycle. This switch may be coupled in anydesirable manner to the drink dispensing device or other mechanism withwhich the present cup dispensing machine is associated, for the purposeof coordinating the operation of the related devices.

What is claimed is:

1. In a turret type cup dispensing machine including a cup dispenser andan operating motor therefor, and in combination, turret rotating meansfor bringing stacks of cups successively into feeding position over thecup dispenser, means for coupling said turret rotating means to thedispenser operating motor for operation thereby, a circuit for saidoperating motor connected to a source of current, control means foractuating said coupling means upon depletion of the stack of cups infeeding position til over said dispenser to bring another stack of cupsinto feeding position, feeler means positioned to contact thestack ofcups in a reserve position, said feeler means being adapted to control aswitch in said motor circuit and so arranged that when the last reservestack of cups is moved into the feeding position and has becomedepleted, said switching means is opened to disable said motor circuit,thereby preventing the energization of the operating motor.

2. In a turret type cup dispensing machine including a cup dispenser andan operating motor therefor, and in combination, a ratchet and pawldriven by the cup dispensing operating motor and cooperating to rotatethe turret for bringing stacks of cups successively into reserveposition and into feeding position over the cup dispenser, said pawlbeing normally withheld from said ratchet, a feeler member fordetermining when the stack in feeding position is depleted, said feelermember releasing said pawl to operate said ratchet upon such depletion,a spring-biased indexing member cooperating with said ratchet upon eachmovement thereof for positively positioning said turret in predeterminedangular positions, and means cooperating with the cup stack in thereserve position and released for actuation when there is no stack inthat position, said means being actuated by said indexing member toprevent operation of the operating motor when the last cup stack hasbeen depleted.

3. In a turret type cup dispensing machine including means fordispensing cups from a stack in feeding position thereover and turretmeans for bringing stacks successively to a reserve position and intofeeding position, turret rotating means, control means for operatingsaid turret rotating means and comprising a feeler for determiningdepletion of a stack in feeding position, and feeler means associatedwith said turret adjacent said reserve position for determining theabsence of a stack therein and inactivating said turret rotating means.

4. In a turret type cup dispenser, and in combination, means forrotating a turret step by step through a predetermined angle, theangular spacing of the stacks of cups in the turret being a multiplethereof, indexing means for positioning the turret after each movementthereof, a feeler for the stack of cups in feeding position, yieldingmeans for protracting the feeler toward the stack in feeding positionand retracting it therefrom upon the dispensing of each cup, and meansoperable by said feeler upon depletion of a stack in feeding position toactuate said turret drive means upon each dispensing of a cup, a secondfeeler adapted to feel the bottoms of cups in said turret in theposition next to said feeding position, and control means connected tosaid second feeler means and adapted to be conditioned by the movementof said second feeler means due to the absence of a stack of cups insaid position next to said feeding position, whereby said turret drivemeans is disabled upon the depletion of the last stack of cups in thefeeding position.

5. In a turret type cup dispenser, and in combination, means forrotating a turret step by step through a predetermined angle, theangular spacing of the stacks of cups in the turret being a multiplethereof, indexing means for positioning the turret after each movementthereof, a feeler for the stack of cups in feeding position and operableupon depletion of a stack in feedaseaoov ing position to initiate theindexing of the succeeding stack 0! cups to said feeding position. asecond teeler for feeling the stack of cups in the succeeding position,and means interconnected with said second ieeler i'or conditioningcontrol means when there are no longer any cups in said succeedingposition. whereby said control means will inactivate the turret drivemeans when the last stack of cups in said feed-- ing position isdepleted.

6. In a turret type cup dispenser of the kind in which a turret isrotated step by step to bring stacks of cups successively intodispensing position. a first i'eeler means cooperating with the stack insaid dispensing position for feeling the cups in said dispensingposition and for conditioning control means to eirect the moving oi asucceeding reserve stack into said dispensing position when thepreceding stack in the dispensing position is exhausted, and otherfeeier means cooperating with the stack oi cups in said next succeedingreserve position, said last i'eeler means cooperating with said controlmeans to disable the operation of said dispenser when the 8 last columnmoved into the dispensing position under control 0! said first ieelermeans has been depleted.

CHARLES C. WAI'I'E. PHILIP 1". BENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATHI'I'S

